NZ face tricky draw at Bordeaux Sevens

12.15pm

New Zealand will have to overcome a potentially difficult pool at next month's Bordeaux Sevens as the International Rugby Board series nears a climax.

Results at the tournaments in Bordeaux on May 28-29 and in London on June 5-6 will determine the winners of the eight-leg series.

Defending champions New Zealand, who have won just one tournament in the 2003-2004 series, still head the standings on 92 points, with England and South Africa tied for second on 86 and Argentina fourth on 78.

At the Bordeaux tournament New Zealand have been drawn with hosts France in pool play. The last time the teams met, France when their quarterfinal clash at the Singapore Sevens, their first-ever defeat of New Zealand in sevens rugby. The other pool opponents are Canada and Russia, the Canadians improving enough in recent times to beat Fiji at the Hong Kong sevens.

New Zealand's pool opponents in London will be Australia, Georgia and Portugal.

Pool draws:

Bordeaux

Pool A: New Zealand, France, Canada, Russia

Pool B: England, Australia, Kenya, Spain

Pool C: South Africa, Fiji, Scotland, Portugal

Pool D: Argentina, Samoa, Georgia, Italy

London

Pool A: New Zealand, Australia, Georgia, Portugal

Pool B: England, France, Scotland, Italy

Pool C: South Africa, Samoa, Kenya, Russia

Pool D: Argentina, Fiji, Canada, Spain

- NZPA